If you've spent any time learning French, you've probably come across "peut-être" as the standard way to say "maybe." And it's true, it's the most common and versatile option!

But just like in English, where we have "perhaps," "possibly," "it's conceivable," and more, French offers a rich palette of alternatives to express uncertainty. Knowing these can make your conversations sound much more natural and nuanced.

So, let's dive into 9 different ways to say "maybe" in French, and learn when to use each one!

The standard 'maybe' – peut-être

Peut-être is the most common and straightforward way to say “maybe” or “perhaps” in French. It literally means “can be”.

This adverb is usually hyphenated when placed at the beginning of a sentence, or when it follows an inverted verb. However, when it comes after the verb in a standard statement, it's often written without a hyphen.

You can use peut-être in almost any situation, from casual chats with friends to more formal discussions. It's your reliable word for expressing uncertainty.

When peut-être modifies a verb, it typically comes after the conjugated verb in simple tenses (e.g., Je viendrai peut-être), and after the auxiliary verb in compound tenses (e.g., J'ai peut-être oublié). It can also start a sentence for emphasis.

To add a bit more emphasis or a stronger sense of possibility, you might hear or use peut-être bien. This variation suggests a slightly more affirmative nuance to the uncertainty, implying 'perhaps indeed' or 'quite possibly'.

When peut-être begins a sentence, especially in spoken French, it is very often followed by que before the subject and verb (e.g., Peut-être que tu as raison – 'Maybe you are right'). While not strictly necessary, it's a common and natural construction.

Beyond its standalone use, peut-être can form part of direct answers like peut-être que oui (maybe yes) or peut-être que non (maybe no) to explicitly express possibility or doubt.

💡 * Je viendrai peut-être demain. (I will maybe come tomorrow.)

Peut-être que c'est une bonne idée. (Maybe it's a good idea.)

Il a peut-être oublié son portefeuille. (He might have forgotten his wallet.)

"Tu veux du café ?" "Peut-être que oui." ("Do you want coffee?" "Maybe yes.")

Nous devrions peut-être y réfléchir. (We should perhaps think about it.)

The 'it's possible that' (formal) – il se peut que

To express 'it's possible that' or 'it may be that' in French, especially in a more formal or nuanced way, you'll often encounter the phrase il se peut que.

While similar in meaning to simpler expressions like peut-être (perhaps) or il est possible que (it is possible that), il se peut que carries a slightly more formal tone. It often implies a degree of polite uncertainty or a situation where the possibility is acknowledged but not necessarily confirmed.

A crucial grammatical point for il se peut que is that it always requires the subjunctive mood for the verb that follows. This is non-negotiable and a common point of error for learners. Remember: il se peut que + subjunctive.

You'll find il se peut que used in various contexts, from formal writing and academic discussions to polite conversations where you want to express a possibility without being too direct or certain. It's a useful phrase for conveying a subtle doubt or a respectful acknowledgment of an unknown outcome.

Unlike peut-être which simply states a possibility (e.g., Peut-être qu'il viendra - Perhaps he will come), il se peut que inherently frames the possibility from an impersonal perspective. While il est possible que also takes the subjunctive and means 'it is possible that,' il se peut que often suggests a slightly higher degree of objective uncertainty or a more formal register.

💡 * Il se peut qu'il pleuve demain. (It's possible that it will rain tomorrow.)

Il se peut que nous soyons en retard. (It's possible that we are late.)

Il se peut qu'elle ait oublié notre rendez-vous. (It's possible that she forgot our appointment.)

Il se peut que ce soit la meilleure solution. (It's possible that this is the best solution.)

The 'it's possible' (common) – c'est possible

Another extremely common and versatile French phrase you'll frequently hear and use is c'est possible. It directly translates to 'it's possible' or 'that's possible'.

At its core, c'est possible is used to express that something can happen, might happen, or is feasible. It's a simple and direct way to acknowledge a possibility.

Grammatically, c'est possible follows the common French structure of c'est (it is/that is) followed by an adjective (possible). This structure is used for general statements about situations or things.

While c'est possible is perfect for general statements like 'it's possible' or 'that's possible,' if you need to express 'it's possible to do something' or 'it's possible that something happens', French often uses il est possible de + infinitive, or il est possible que + subjunctive. C'est possible is best for standalone remarks about possibility.

To say 'it's not possible,' you simply add ne...pas around est: Ce n'est pas possible. This is also a very common expression, often used with a sense of disbelief or strong refusal.

C'est possible is a phrase you'll hear in countless everyday conversations, from discussing plans to acknowledging facts. It's a fundamental part of expressing uncertainty or potential in French and is highly versatile.

💡 * C'est possible. (It's possible.)

Ce n'est pas possible ! (It's not possible! / No way!)

Pensez-vous que c'est possible ? (Do you think it's possible?)

Oui, c'est tout à fait possible. (Yes, it's entirely possible.)

C'est possible, mais peu probable. (It's possible, but unlikely.)

The 'probably' – probablement

Probablement is the French equivalent of the English adverb “probably”.

As an adverb, probablement modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, expressing a degree of likelihood.

It typically follows the conjugated verb in simple tenses and often comes after the auxiliary verb in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé).

Probablement indicates a strong possibility or likelihood, similar to “most likely” or “in all likelihood” in English.

💡 * Il va probablement pleuvoir demain. (It will probably rain tomorrow.)

Nous avons probablement oublié nos clés. (We have probably forgotten our keys.)

Elle est probablement très fatiguée après son voyage. (She is probably very tired after her trip.)

Tu as probablement raison sur ce point. (You are probably right on this point.)

The 'perhaps' (can also mean 'no doubt') – sans doute

The phrase sans doute is a fascinating French expression that can convey two seemingly opposite meanings: 'perhaps' or 'no doubt/certainly'.

When used to express uncertainty or probability, sans doute translates to 'perhaps', 'probably', or 'possibly'. It suggests a likelihood rather than an absolute fact.

Conversely, sans doute can also express certainty or strong affirmation, meaning 'no doubt', 'certainly', or 'undoubtedly'. This usage emphasizes conviction.

The specific meaning of sans doute is almost entirely dependent on the context and intonation. Pay close attention to the surrounding words and the speaker's tone to discern whether it implies probability or certainty.

Sans doute is an adverbial phrase and can often be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, though its position can sometimes subtly influence its nuance.

For learners, the best way to master sans doute is through exposure and practice. Listen carefully to native speakers and analyze the context to understand its intended meaning in different situations.

💡 * Il viendra sans doute demain. (He will perhaps/probably come tomorrow.)

C'est sans doute la meilleure solution. (It is undoubtedly the best solution.)

Sans doute qu'il pleuvra plus tard. (Perhaps it will rain later.)

Tu as sans doute raison. (You are certainly right.)

Elle a sans doute oublié son rendez-vous. (She probably forgot her appointment.)

The 'likely' – vraisemblablement

The French adverb vraisemblablement translates to 'likely,' 'probably,' or 'in all likelihood.' It is derived from vraisemblable (plausible, likely) and vrai (true) and sembler (to seem), literally meaning 'true-seeming' or 'appearing true.'

While it means 'likely,' vraisemblablement often carries a slightly more formal or sophisticated tone than its common synonym, probablement. You'll frequently encounter it in written texts, official reports, or more formal spoken discourse, suggesting a reasoned assessment of likelihood.

For everyday conversation, probablement is a more common and neutral choice. Other ways to express likelihood include phrases like il est probable que (it is probable that) or il y a de fortes chances que (there's a strong chance that). Vraisemblablement specifically implies that something appears true or plausible based on available information or common sense.

As an adverb, vraisemblablement typically modifies a verb and can be placed after the conjugated verb (e.g., il viendra vraisemblablement) or at the beginning of a clause for emphasis (e.g., Vraisemblablement, il pleuvra demain).

Use vraisemblablement when you want to convey that something is not just probable, but also plausible or credible given the circumstances. It adds a touch of reasoned judgment to your statement of likelihood.

💡 *Il viendra vraisemblablement demain matin. (He will likely come tomorrow morning.)
*Vraisemblablement, le projet sera terminé à temps. (In all likelihood, the project will be finished on time.)
*Elle a vraisemblablement oublié son rendez-vous. (She has probably forgotten her appointment.)
*Les résultats, vraisemblablement, seront annoncés la semaine prochaine. (The results, likely, will be announced next week.)

The 'potentially' – éventuellement

The French adverb éventuellement is a tricky one for English speakers, often mistaken for its similar-sounding English counterpart, 'eventually.' However, these two words have very different meanings.

In French, éventuellement means 'possibly,' 'potentially,' 'if necessary,' or 'if need be.' It expresses a conditional possibility rather than a certainty that something will happen over time.

Therefore, if you want to say 'eventually' in French, you would use words like finalement, à la fin, or tôt ou tard, not éventuellement. Always remember this key distinction to avoid miscommunication.

💡 * On pourrait éventuellement dîner ensemble ce soir. (We could possibly/potentially have dinner together tonight.)

Prenez un parapluie, éventuellement, s'il pleut. (Take an umbrella, if necessary/possibly, if it rains.)

Appelle-moi éventuellement si tu as des questions. (Call me possibly/if you have questions.)

Je peux éventuellement vous aider demain. (I can possibly help you tomorrow.)

The 'who knows?' – qui sait ?

The French phrase qui sait ? directly translates to 'who knows?'. It's used to express uncertainty or a lack of definitive knowledge about a situation or outcome.

It often implies that anything is possible, or that the answer is unknowable, sometimes with a hint of resignation or even hope. It can stand alone as a complete thought.

You'll frequently hear qui sait ? in casual conversation when discussing future possibilities, unexpected events, or when someone is speculating about something.

💡 * Va-t-il pleuvoir demain ? Qui sait ? (Will it rain tomorrow? Who knows?)

Peut-être qu'il changera d'avis, qui sait ? (Maybe he'll change his mind, who knows?)

On ne sait jamais ce qui peut arriver, qui sait ? (You never know what can happen, who knows?)

Elle pourrait gagner le concours, qui sait ? (She could win the competition, who knows?)

The 'we'll see' – on verra

The phrase "on verra" is a common and idiomatic way to say "we'll see" in French. It's a versatile expression used to indicate uncertainty about future events or decisions.

Literally, "on verra" translates to "one will see" or "we will see." It combines the impersonal pronoun on (which often means "we" in spoken French) with the future tense conjugation of the verb voir (to see).

This phrase is frequently used when you don't want to give a definitive answer, or when a decision depends on future circumstances. It implies a "let's wait and see" attitude, often used to postpone a decision or acknowledge that something is out of one's immediate control.

"On verra" is widely used in everyday conversation and is considered informal to neutral. While not overtly rude, in very formal settings, one might opt for a more elaborate or precise expression of uncertainty, though "on verra" remains broadly acceptable.

💡 * "Tu viens à la fête ce soir ?" "On verra." (Are you coming to the party tonight? We'll see.)

"Est-ce qu'il fera beau demain ?" "On verra bien." (Will the weather be good tomorrow? We'll see. - 'bien' adds emphasis)

"On devrait partir tôt pour éviter les embouteillages." "Oui, on verra." (We should leave early to avoid traffic jams. Yes, we'll see.)

"Je ne sais pas si je pourrai t'aider, on verra." (I don't know if I can help you, we'll see.)

Are there other ways to say 'maybe' in French?

Are there other ways to say “maybe” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “maybe” in French. But like any language, French has a rich vocabulary, and there are always more nuanced, regional, or informal ways to express uncertainty.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire peut-être en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might encounter various expressions for 'maybe' in French. Always check their specific connotations and observe how native speakers use them in different contexts before incorporating them into your own speech.

Pay close attention as you immerse yourself in French media — books, films, podcasts, and conversations — you'll likely uncover many subtle and varied ways to express possibility and uncertainty.

For a deeper dive into the nuances of expressing 'maybe' and related concepts in French, the WordReference entry for peut-être is an excellent resource to explore further!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is a perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Honoré de Balzac: Le doute est un hommage rendu à l'espoir. (Doubt is a tribute paid to hope.)

9 ways to say "maybe" in French